Sri Lanka break through Chakabva resistance to take series lead
Zimbabwe began the day with all 10 wickets in hand, trailing Sri Lanka by 127 runs, but Prince Masvaure departed in the second over of the day to the impressive Suranga Lakmal, who ripped through the top order to leave the hosts 41/3.
The experienced pair of Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams led Zimbabwe’s recovery batting through until after lunch. The game’s momentum swung in the space of six balls not long after the break, however, with Lakmal dismissing Taylor and Williams succumbing to Kasun Rajitha.
Zimbabwe are nine down, but will Regis Chakabva continue to frustrate Sri Lanka?#ZIMvSL pic.twitter.com/Dq7MKqV0Ih
— ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2020
While Lasith Embuldeniya got in on the act with the wicket of Sikandar Raza, Chakaba and Donald Tiripano batted together for nearly 20 overs, adding just 11 runs.
Lahiru Kumara came into his own to dismantle Zimbabwe’s tail, though, removing Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis and Ainsley Ndlovu, with Embuldeniya getting the final and major wicket of Chakabva, who finished on 26.
Left with a target of 14, Oshada Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne made sure there were no hiccups in Sri Lanka’s response, with just three overs needed to seal the win.
